Book Summary
Regretting You follows Morgan Grant, a 34-year-old woman who became a mother at 17, and her rebellious 16-year-old daughter Clara. Their strained relationship reaches a breaking point when Morgan’s husband Chris—Clara’s father—dies in a car accident alongside Morgan’s sister Jenny. The tragedy unveils a web of secrets, including Chris and Jenny’s affair, forcing Morgan to grapple with betrayal while shielding Clara from the truth. As Morgan finds unexpected solace in Jonah (Jenny’s ex-fiancé), Clara seeks escape in a forbidden romance with Miller Adams, deepening the rift between mother and daughter.
Hoover crafts a dual narrative, alternating between Morgan and Clara’s perspectives, to highlight generational divides and the universality of grief. The novel balances raw emotion with moments of levity, like Clara’s witty exchanges with Miller or Morgan’s dry observations about suburban monotony. While the plot hinges on dramatic reveals, its strength lies in authentic character dynamics—particularly Morgan’s quiet despair as a woman who “seems to be going through the motions of life without actually being aware of any of the motions.” The resolution offers catharsis without tidy solutions, staying true to the messiness of healing.
Key Themes
At its core, Regretting You explores the weight of sacrifice and the illusion of control. Morgan’s arc embodies the societal expectation that mothers must sublimate their identities—a theme mirrored in her decision to abandon college after her pregnancy. Her resentment simmers beneath routines like “the same gym workout” and “scheduled meals,” reflecting how trauma can calcify into stagnation. Conversely, Clara’s rebellion (skipping school, losing her virginity to spite Morgan) underscores adolescence as a performance of autonomy, especially when real agency feels elusive.
Betrayal operates on multiple levels: marital (Chris/Jenny’s affair), familial (Morgan withholding truths from Clara), and self-betrayal (Jonah ignoring Jenny’s infidelity). Hoover interrogates whether love necessitates forgiveness through Morgan’s dilemma: “I told you I’d regret it, but I’ve never been more wrong.” The novel suggests that regret often stems from unmet expectations rather than choices themselves—a nuance that elevates it beyond typical romance tropes.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike Hoover’s more fantastical works (e.g., Verity), Regretting You grounds its drama in relatable domestic tensions. The alternating POVs allow readers to empathize with both Morgan’s protective lies and Clara’s hunger for transparency—a duality that avoids villainizing either character. Standout scenes, like Morgan and Jonah destroying a painting Jenny gifted Chris, use physicality to externalize emotional catharsis, a technique Hoover employs deftly.
The novel also subverts “insta-love” clichés. Morgan and Jonah’s connection builds over shared grief and inside jokes, while Clara and Miller’s relationship evolves from mutual annoyance to vulnerability. Some readers may critique the pacing of Morgan/Jonah’s romance, but their chemistry—rooted in quiet glances and unspoken history—feels earned. Hoover’s decision to [SPOILER] confirm Elijah as Chris’s son through implication rather than exposition also demonstrates narrative restraint.
Reader Reactions
Fans praise Hoover’s ability to “make you weep then laugh in the same chapter.” One reviewer admitted, “I cried for practically half the book… and kept crying hours after finishing,” while others highlighted Clara’s voice as “the most authentic teen perspective since The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” The mother-daughter dynamic resonates deeply; as a Bookstagrammer noted, “It made me call my mom to apologize for being a nightmare at 16.”
Debates center on Morgan’s choices—some argue her secrecy is unforgivable, while others defend it as maternal instinct. The audiobook, narrated alternately by Morgan and Clara’s voice actors, amplifies these emotional extremes, with listeners calling it “an immersive experience.” Despite its heavy themes, readers consistently describe the ending as “hopeful without being saccharine,” a trademark of Hoover’s work.
About the Author
Colleen Hoover (“CoHo” to fans) is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for blending romance with psychological depth. A former social worker, she self-published her debut Slammed in 2012 before becoming a publishing phenomenon. Her background informs Regretting You‘s exploration of trauma and resilience, particularly in Morgan’s arc as a woman rebuilding her identity after systemic disappointments.
Hoover frequently draws from her Texas upbringing to craft small-town dynamics, though Regretting You‘s suburban setting marks a departure. The novel reflects her interest in “love after loss,” a theme she revisits in It Ends With Us. While some criticize her for melodrama, her 22 million+ sold copies attest to an unmatched ability to articulate visceral emotion—a skill that makes Regretting You linger long after the last page.
Memorable Quotes
“I wonder if humans are the only loving creatures that ever feel hollow inside. I don’t understand how my body can be full of everything bodies are full of—bones and muscles and blood and organs—yet my chest sometimes feels vacant.”
—Clara’s opening reflection, capturing the novel’s theme of emotional dissonance.
“It’s my birthday and I’m surrounded by everyone important to me, but for some reason, I feel more alone than I’ve ever felt.”
—Morgan’s poignant observation, foreshadowing her marital disillusionment.
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
—A recurring Hoover maxim, embodied by Morgan’s tolerance of Chris’s emotional neglect.